We always want to strive to do better than the average , said Kevin Waltman , a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Commerce.But more importantly , as we look at our Midwestern competitors , with the exception of Wisconsin , we performed slightly better than or at the growth rate of neighboring states..

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That's good , Waltman said , because the jobs at auto plants and other manufacturers pay well and boost Hoosier families' incomes.

One sector -- agriculture -- saw a 1.7 percent decline.

From 1992-99 , Indiana's share of the combined GSP in the Great Lake states ( Indiana , Illinois , Michigan , Ohio and Wisconsin ) stayed at around 12 percent and its share of the nation's GSP remained at about 2 percent.

"Per (Boeing's) wishes, we're not releasing the names," said Kevin Waltman, of the Indiana Department of Commerce.

"We've submitted (Indiana's) proposals, and we know there is going to be a lot of competition, but we certainly think, given Indiana's economic strengths, that we've got as good of a chance, if not a better chance, than some of our competitors."

Washington, Boeing's former home state, used Friday's deadline for an attention-grabbing courting process, offering $3 billion in 20 years' worth of tax breaks for aerospace facilities if Boeing comes there.

Waltman did not mention what Indiana was offering Boeing to consider this state, but Washington rushed a tax package through its state legislature last week, designed specifically to lure Boeing to Washington.

The biggest incentive the state commerce department offers is the EDGE [ Economic Development for a Growing Economy ] Tax Credit Program , says Kevin Waltman , spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Commerce.The credit is calculated based on the number of new jobs and payroll generated by a company's expansion or location.Local tax credits and abatement also are offered on R&D equipment..